The nation’s interest should be above political bickering

WITH the country’s two top generals, Armed Forces chief, Gen. Gilbert Gapay and Philippine National Police chief, P/Gen. Camilo Cascolan, standing erect behind him, President Duterte last Thursday, October 8, 2020, addressed the feuding members of the House of Representatives.

The “presidential angst,” so to speak, was brought about by the hasty “recess” of Congress initiated by the camp of Speaker Alan Cayetano that left hanging the passage of the national budget for next year.

Not very neat but done out of necessity, that political maneuver by Cayetano’s camp was of course intended to silence the camp of Marinduque representative, Lord Allan Velasco, who are insistent on taking over the House laedership, with him as Speaker, based on his and Cayetano’s “gentleman’s agreement” last year.

The “unintended consequence” of this political hullabaloo of course, was President Duterte “breathing down their necks,” so to speak, and making known his great displeasure.

If Cayetano and Velasco felt humiliated and had suddenly come to their senses after that public chastisement by the President, we can only guess. After all, our politicians are known to have skins as thick as a rhinoceros’ hide.

But the message to them is clear: the national budget for next year must be passed on time. No ifs, no buts.

Or as the President puts it very clearly to the members of Congress, if they cannot “fix” their own mess, then he would fix it for them.

And if still, in their self-narrowness, their bullishness and their boorishness, they can’t get the point of what he is saying, then the two generals standing behind him should deliver home the point to them.

Of course, it would be easy to dismiss last Thursday’s evening speech by the President as just plain “drama.”

But who can tell what is really playing in the mind of a President who sometimes felt he was all alone in administering the country while the rest of the nation’s leadership are content to immerse themselves in their own petty quarrels and ambitions?

Especially in this time of pandemic where a national effort is badly needed if we are to push forward whatever “better life” can be provided to the people next year?

We are not only in the midst of a global pandemic but also in the midst of a global economic crisis and all the members of our Congress can think of is their own selfish interests” Come on, people!

If others are not taking the President’s gesture last week and are dismissing it as mere “bravado,” then Pinoy Exposé is not.

Insofar as we are concerned, Pres. Duterte is sending home the clear message that if drastic measures are what are needed to end the impasse in Congress for the sake of the nation’s larger interest, then so be it.

Translation? Come to your senses and do your patriotic duty, gentlemen! The President has done his part. You must do yours, now.